I spread my hands. “What I thought was that it was ridiculous. Why would a guy like you want to marry a stripper? It didn’t make any sense.”
“A guy like me?”
“He showed me your picture. Unless you were some kind of psycho, there was no reason why you couldn’t marry somebody more respectable.”
“Did you know he was the one who ordered the cake for my birthday?” Elliot asks.
My head snaps up. “What?”
“It’s true. My PI verified it.”
“No, no way.” I start shaking. “I had no clue. I swear! I was just doing a favor for my roommate because she said she couldn’t lose the job, and it would pay well.”
“Can she vouch for you?”
I start to nod, then stop. Caroline wanted money from me, and she was furious that I told her to take a hike. She wouldn’t hesitate to make up whatever story she feels like to spite me. In fact, it would probably give her pleasure to do so.
Elliot stands, his lips curling into a cruel line as he comes closer. He gets close enough that I can feel the heat from his body. His hand grips my jaw and tilts my head so I’m looking directly at him. My breathing roughens with pain. “Is anything you ever told me true?”
“Elliot, I didn’t know!”
“Did you tell Grayson the real reason I had to marry?”
“No!”
“Maybe you didn’t have to because he already knew.”
“He must have, because I didn’t know! Elliot, please!”
“Why did you meet with Dennis despite all those sob stories about your shitty past with him? If he’s that awful, why have coffee with him?”
I wrench away from him. “Were you spying on me?”
“No. I didn’t have to. I was helpfully informed of the fact.”
My thoughts spin out of control. “He wanted to meet. He was upset about his job.”
“Then he should’ve talked with his coworkers, not you!”
“He was upset because he thought you somehow got Gavin to redo his background check! He’s worried about his job!”
Something flickers in Elliot’s dark eyes, then it vanishes, leaving emptiness behind. “And why is that your problem?” He comes so close I can see every speck of color in his irises. “His father killed your parents.”
My eyes prickle with tears, and I blink them away. The knot in my belly grows bigger, and the memories of my ugly past cut deep once more, leaving me bleeding inside. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I get to blame Dennis. He didn’t pull the trigger. He isn’t responsible for what his dad did, just like I’m not responsible for mine.”
“Very understanding of you.” His face a cold, unyielding mask, Elliot slowly pulls back, then turns away.
Panic surges within my chest. I feel like I’m going to burst. “Wait!” I say.
“Do you have more to say?” he says without turning to see me.
“I…” I stop, suddenly feeling clumsy and foolish. I don’t know what to do to make him not turn his back on me like this. “Elliot…”
He waits for a long—a very long—moment, then lets out a soft sound of derision. “I thought not.”
The words are a mere whisper, but they feel like a death knell in my head.
He walks off from me toward his office, each step taking him farther away.